A BELL'S VIREO was seen Dec. 16, 17, and 19 on Cape Island just north of
West Cape May. From the north, take Seashore Road over the
canal. Continue about 0.6 miles and turn right (west) on Taylor
Lane. After a short distance, Taylor Lane becomes a loop; head for the
extreme southwest corner of the loop, to #23 Taylor Lane. Unfortunately,
there is no number on the mailbox or on the house, but it is a beige house
with green shutters, and the next door neighbor -- #21 does have their
number on their mailbox. Number 23 has the only native thick brush
remaining in the housing development. The bird has been seen along the
right side of the driveway in the brush, but long periods have passed
without the bird being seen. The owners have graciously given permission
for birders to walk up and down the driveway, but under no circumstances
should anyone walk onto their newly planted yard, enter the brushy area, or
enter the property of any neighbors. This is a sensitive issue in this
neighborhood; please be careful.

A young male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was found in Cape May Point on December 8
and is still present. The bird is frequenting a feeder at 404 Central
Avenue. The feeder is easily seen from the street, to the left of the house.

A LARK SPARROW has been seen Dec. 16 through 18 near Cape May Court
House. From Garden State Parkway exit 10, go west on Stone Harbor Blvd.,
which crosses Rt. 9 and becomes Court House South Dennis Road. Go 0.6
miles beyond the traffic light at Winding Way (Ames and Super Fresh on the
right here) and look for a small "Firewood for Sale" sign on the
left. Park opposite that sign on the right, and cross the 100-foot wide
lawn area to the right, to a brushy area where there are piles of garden
refuge. The LARK SPARROW has been seen here along with other sparrow.

Two SNOWY OWLS were seen on the Cape May Christmas Count, December 16, one
at Stone Harbor Point and a second off Ocean Drive at the south end of
Wildwood Crest. A SNOWY OWL was seen on the beach in North Wildwood Dec.
17 through 19.

Two southern NJ Christmas Bird Counts are coming up: the Belleplain CBC
will be held Sunday, December 23 (contact Paul Kosten at 609-861-5827 to
participate), and the Cumberland County CBC will be held Sunday, December
30 (contact Clay Sutton at 609-465-3397 to participate).

The Cape May Bird Observatory has daily walks that require no
pre-registration, and many special field trips and programs that do. To
receive a copy of our Program Schedule, stop at one of our centers, call
609-861-0700, go to New Jersey Audubon's WEB SITE at http://www.njaudubon.org, or
call our new natural history and events hotline at 609-861-0466.

This Cape May Birding Hotline is a service of the Cape May Bird
Observatory, which is a research, conservation, and education unit of the
New Jersey Audubon Society. Our aim is to preserve and perpetuate the
ornithological significance of Cape May. Your membership supports these
goals and this hotline. We detail sightings from Cape May, Cumberland, and
Atlantic Counties. Updates are typically made on Thursdays. Please report
sightings of rare or unusual birds to CMBO at 609-884-2736, or e-mail
reports to mark@njaudubon.org. Thanks for calling and GOOD BIRDING!